The Happy Life

Far too often I find myself getting sucked into the comparison game.

I look at friends, family, complete strangers; and think "They've got it all.  Their lives are perfect."

I come to this conclusion because of their blog posts, or their cute Instagram collages posted on Facebook, or the view of perfection I see at church or the store.

But you know what?  No one is perfect.
No one has the perfect kids, the perfect marriage, the perfect life; myself included.
Yes, I love my children, think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and will continue to post abundant amounts of pictures of the adorable things they do.
Yes, I love my husband and am proud of his hard work in school and his impending graduation, and am so grateful for the way he treats and loves me each and every day.
Yes, we get to do wonderful things like go on cruises (in 3 days!!!), visit our families often, and share exciting adventures with friends.
But there is lots of hard stuff, too.  In my life, in your life, and in that perfect blogger who's home, clothes, and circumstances we all covet.

I hope that when people visit my blog or look at my life they don't think that I have it all, know it all, or am trying to portray something that is not.
Because what I write down and take pictures of and want to remember is the truth.
And the truth isn't that my life is perfect, but that it is happy.
I am happy.
I have a beautiful life and feel so blessed.
I feel this way when the good things happen and try my best to still do so when the bad does.
It seems life has been giving us a lot of both lately.  The good, the bad, the hard, the wonderful, the stressful, and the enjoyable.

Yesterday we lost our Grandpa Charlie.

Charlie was technically Ryan's step-grandfather, but he was the only one Ryan ever knew on his dad's side of the family and always treated him as the real deal.
Grandpa Charlie lived an extraordinary life: WW2 Prisoner of War and Veteran, faithful missionary for the LDS church, and he made some world famous homemade ice cream.
He lived a long life and his health was failing, so while we will miss him greatly we are thankful that he is comfortable and happy.

We leave for eight days of sun, sleep, sand, ocean, sleep, and cruise food in 3 days and counting.
Wow, how did this come so fast?
The first half of our dynamic babysitting duo, Nana Teresa, arrived this morning and is now catching up on some rest after her red eye flight.  Nana J will join the party on Monday night.
We are so blessed to have such amazing mothers who so willingly give up their time to watch our girls.  They are making the fact that I am leaving my babies for 8 whole days a lot easier!

It's birthday week for my pops.
It makes for high running emotions and lots to think about and motive me as I power through the miles while running each night.
Fifty-one years young.  He should still be here.
Some days it is all too much.

Our basement flooded this week.
Not cool.

Our water heater rusted out and decided to dump it's contents all over our basement.
Luckily nothing was really ruined except for a few cardboard boxes we have been saving to use when we move from here.  So glad we saved those for nearly 4 years just to have them destroyed 3 months before we leave.
I am so grateful that this happened while: 1. we are renting 2. Ryan was home for the day, and 3. we were still on dry land and before the grandmas were left to clean up the mess, because it was a mess.
Gotta look on the bright side. people.

Some people that I love very much have had to face some hard things lately.
Like really, really hard and tragic things.
My heart aches for them and I wish I was better at helping them through such a difficult time.
Sometimes I think I feel too  much.
I can sympathize and empathize so much with people, but it can be so hard when there is nothing that can be done to fix things.
I have been sending up a lot of prayers for them, because in the end I know it is not me who will bring the comfort.

Both my children are currently taking naps.
This has only happened three times in the last two weeks.
It is a good thing they are so cute, because they wear me right out.
Also, it is important to note that dressing them in matching in outfits and taking their pictures contributes highly to my happy life.

We still have no idea where Ryan will be working, and consequently where we will be living, in only a few short months; but thanks for asking.
It is kind of stressful for me and it is the question we are constantly being asked.
At this point I just pray we things will work out as they should and that we will be able to start paying back our student loans.

So there you have the current events of our "perfect" life.
It kind of seems like the bad is outweighing the good right now, but I'm not sure that is entirely true.
Despite it all I feel happy.
I feel a little stressed and tired, too; but overall I am grateful to have a happy outlook on life.
I know that my happiness comes from two things: the amazing people in my life and the Gospel.
Both lift me up and urge me to continue forward.
Both show me that there is so much in life to smile about.
Both make my life purposeful and make me feel loved.
It's a wonderful life.